Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas, Azabu Research

Michael Allen

Japanese Turnaround Situations, Short-Ideas

Azabu Research

Azabu Research is a publishing and consulting firm focused on distressed equities in the Japanese market. We specialize in turnaround strategies, corporate combinations, divestitures, and restructuring.

Publisher of the Tokyo Turnaround Letter, which conducts the most thorough research possible of publicly available information, including forensic tests for fraudulent overstatement of assets and understatement of liabilities, as well as rigorous market and industry analysis to assess the underlying strengths of the company’s products or services, the appropriateness of the company’s turnaround strategy, and the skill of its current management team. The average length of a report exceeds 25 pages of text and tables, excluding any disclosures or executive summaries.

We have more than 30 years of experience in applying this process to distressed equities in Japan. Additionally, subscribers have free access to detailed, yet easily navigated earnings models for the target company as well as the top five comparable companies, and unlimited access to the analyst for follow-up questions.

Azabu Research also conducts be-spoke research on a project basis, and provides consulting services to companies looking to restructure, divest, make acquisitions, go public, or improve investor sentiment toward their stock.

Independent Research and Consulting Firm

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. </li>
<li>An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.</li>
<li>Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.</li>
</ul>


2025 will start with more attractive turnaround opportunities than we have seen in a long time. 
An uptick in TOBs, MBOs and merger discussions makes it suddenly no longer safe to short low-PBR companies indiscriminately.
Investors are noticing. More than two-dozen large- and medium-cap stocks with deep discounts to the benchmark began to bounce off well-defined support levels in late December.


Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>A Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-10/topcon-gets-buyout-offers-from-kkr-eqt-as-japan-m-a-heats-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> today said <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/topcon-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:738:1" rel="noopener">Topcon Corp (7732 JP)</a> is weighing takeover bids received from KKR and EQT. ValueAct has been pressuring the company for 18mos (5+% in May23)</li>
<li>ValueAct has apparently been pushing the company to divest assets and concentrate on core ops, or go private (and have someone else do it). </li>
<li>This is further evidence of the METI-enabled "Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine" which could expand M&amp;A and governance activity dramatically. </li>
</ul>


A Bloomberg article today said Topcon Corp (7732 JP) is weighing takeover bids received from KKR and EQT. ValueAct has been pressuring the company for 18mos (5+% in May23)
ValueAct has apparently been pushing the company to divest assets and concentrate on core ops, or go private (and have someone else do it). 
This is further evidence of the METI-enabled "Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine" which could expand M&amp;A and governance activity dramatically. 


Thinking About Topcon (7732) And the New METI-Enabled Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rigaku-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43950:1" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)</a> priced its IPO at JPY1,260 per share to raise gross proceeds of US$856 million. The shares will start trading on 25 October.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161041" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161232" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-valuation-insights" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161523" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights</a>.</li>
<li>The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price remains attractive.</li>
</ul>



Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) priced its IPO at JPY1,260 per share to raise gross proceeds of US$856 million. The shares will start trading on 25 October.
We previously discussed the IPO in Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case, Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case, Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights.
The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price remains attractive.


Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rigaku-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43950:1" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP)</a> is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement, and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$737 million.</li>
<li>We previously discussed the IPO in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bull-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161041" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/rigaku-holdings-268a-jp-ipo-the-bear-case" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:161232" rel="noopener">Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case</a>.</li>
<li>In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared to peer multiples.</li>
</ul>



Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) is Japan’s leading manufacturer of X-ray analysis, measurement, and testing instruments. It is seeking to raise up to US$737 million.
We previously discussed the IPO in Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bull Case and Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: The Bear Case.
In this note, we discuss valuation. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared to peer multiples.


Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Equity Long-Short Analyst

Pyari Menon

<ul>
<li>With its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/danaher-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8243:1" rel="noopener">Danaher Corp (DHR US)</a> heritage, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/veralto-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40472:1" rel="noopener">Veralto (VLTO US)</a> has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.</li>
<li>Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.</li>
<li>Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .</li>
</ul>


With its Danaher Corp (DHR US) heritage, Veralto (VLTO US) has built a foundation based on durable and recurring sales growth, high profitability, and strong cash generation.
Veralto's products and services are mission-critical yet account for less than 1% of client costs, leading to high switching costs and ensuring customer retention and financial resilience through economic cycles.
Veralto holds market leadership in both its Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality &amp; Innovation (PQI) segments, which positions it well for the increasing regulatory and environmental demands. .


Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Japan

HORIBA, Ltd., manufactures and markets measuring instruments and analyzers.  The Company's main product lines are scientific analyzers, environment monitoring, medical analyzers, engine emission analyzers, and semiconductor test equipment. Horiba operates worldwide.

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Horiba Ltd (6856 JP)

Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Thinking About Topcon (7732) And the New METI-Enabled Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine

The METI Guideline on Corporate Takeovers has enabled a BadCop-GoodCop routine to be played out by activists and PE funds. Topcon may be a victim....

Travis Lundy

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

The shares will start trading on 25 October. The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price...

Arun George

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Rigaku aims to raise US$0.7 billion in a purely secondary raise. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared...

Arun George

Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Veralto's products and services are typically low cost but critical leading to high recurring sales, solid profitability and a leadership position...

Pyari Menon

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Unloved Japan Round Up Jan. 3: Set Up for A Banner Year?

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers​ creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...

Michael Allen

Thinking About Topcon (7732) And the New METI-Enabled Bad Cop-Good Cop Routine

The METI Guideline on Corporate Takeovers has enabled a BadCop-GoodCop routine to be played out by activists and PE funds. Topcon may be a victim....

Travis Lundy

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Trading Debut

The shares will start trading on 25 October. The peers have modestly derated since the prospectus was released on 20 September. The IPO price...

Arun George

Rigaku Holdings (268A JP) IPO: Valuation Insights

Rigaku aims to raise US$0.7 billion in a purely secondary raise. Our analysis suggests that Rigaku is attractively valued at the IPO price compared...

Arun George

Veralto: The Power of Customer Dependency and Recurring Revenue

Veralto's products and services are typically low cost but critical leading to high recurring sales, solid profitability and a leadership position...

Pyari Menon

An uptick in TOBs, MBOs, and mergers creating the best environment for deep value turnarounds in a long time. Dozens of discounted stocks started...